MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. The Russian investigation into the 2022 explosions targeting the Nord Stream and the Nord Stream 2 offshore gas pipelines is making progress, Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said.

"The decision made by these countries (Germany, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden) to reject our cooperation offer proves that no real investigation has in fact taken place. The fear of publishing the names of those responsible - whose trail undoubtedly leads overseas - is stronger than their own national interests," Russia’s chief prosecutor said in an interview with the Kommersant daily. "Besides, they are afraid of lawsuits that we may file to seek compensations over damage to our infrastructure."

"Meanwhile, our investigation is making progress. At present, a forensic explosives examination and other investigative actions are being conducted in order to establish the cause of the pipeline’s damage, precise locations and power of the blasts and other details," he said.

"It’s a terror attack, not a sabotage act as the West is trying to portray it," Krasnov continued. "Everybody knows who was behind it. However, our so-called partners are doing their best to conceal the circumstances."

In his words, since October 2022, Russia has sent 15 requests for legal assistance to Germany, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden, including requests for information obtained from eyewitnesses and during investigative actions, as well as invitations to establish joint investigative teams.

Only one country - Denmark - responded to Russia’s requests, but "their response was, in fact, a mere formality."

"At the same time, I keep calling upon my foreign colleagues to make a joint effort against terrorism, because this evil poses a threat to everyone," he said.

On September 27, 2022, Nord Stream AG reported "unprecedented damage" on three strings of the offshore gas pipelines of the Nord Stream system. Later, Swedish seismologists said they had identified two explosions on the route of the Nord Stream pipelines on September 26, 2022. Following the incident, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office initiated a criminal case on charges of international terrorism.

Later, noted American journalist Seymour Hersh published an article, citing anonymous sources inside Washington, claiming that the explosive devices were placed under the gas pipelines in June 2022 by US Navy divers with the assistance of Norwegian specialists, and then were detonated in September. Subsequently, the New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the sabotage of the gas pipelines could have been carried out by an unidentified "pro-Ukrainian group" that acted without the knowledge of US authorities.